Liquid feeding apparatus



P 1941- L. c. ROOF 2,256,268

LIQUID FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l fi00f INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 16, 1941. c. ROOF 2,256,268 "LIQUID FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

N NW

Sept. 16, 1941. L Q ROOF 2,256,268

LIQUID FEEDING APPARATUS F-iled Aug. 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT JOFFIQE 2,256,268 I LIQUID FEEDING APPARATUS Lewis Clifton Roof, Venice, Calif.

Application August 8, 1940, Serial No. 351,810

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically supplying liquid, as needed, to boilers, tanks or the like containing steam, gas, etc., under pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be made of any desired proportions and can be located either close to or remote from the tank or boiler to be supplied, there being a new and novelarrangement of valves under the control of the liquid being supplied, whereby the liquid will be directed into the boiler as needed and a new'supply or portion of the liquid taken into the apparatus for delivery during the next succeeding cycle of operations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinaiter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, portions of the tank or boiler and of the supply or storage tank being shown assembled therewith.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure l, the parts in both figures being shown in their normal positions.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a portion of the apparatus showing the positions of the parts when the valves ar tripped for the delivery of liquid to the tank or boiler.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a boiler or tank to be supplied with liquid as needed. Mounted on this boiler or tank is a base member 2 supporting a steam conducting pipe 3 and a liquid pipe 4 each of which is bent into substantially U-shape with upper and lower arms. The upper arm of the pipe 3 has an upwardly extending end portion 5 which projects through the bottom of an intermediate container 6 and opens into the container adjacent to the top thereof. The upper arm of the pipe 4 also has an upwardly extending portion 1 which opens into the bottom of the container 6. These pipes are formed of a resilient metal so that they are capabl of flexing under the weight of the intermediate container 6 and its contents. For the purpose of resisting this action, however, cross-strips 8 can be attached to the upper and lower arms of the pipes 3 and 4 and a compression spring 9 can be interposed between these strips to receive a portion of the load.

. Pipe 4 has one end extended downwardly and opening into the upper portion of the tank or boiler l as shown at ID. A water supply pipe ll opens downwardly into the pipe 4 and extends from the bottom of a storage tank S located at a suitable elevation and wherever found most convenient with relation to the tank I. In the pipe 4 between its outlet end and the tank I is a check valve l2 adapted to allow liquid to flow into the tank or boiler l but preventing return flow. Another check valve I3 is located in the pipe I and while it allows liquid to flow through said pipe from the storage tank S to the pipe 4 it will not permit return flow of liquid through the pipe.

The pipe 3 opens into a steam pipe comprising oppositely extending branch pipes l4 and I5. The branch pipe l4 opens into the storage tank S and, in the structur illustrated, has an exhaust valve I6 which is normally open.

The branch pipe l5 of the steam pipe is extended to and opens downwardly into the tank or boiler l as shown at H, the lower open end of this pipe terminating approximately at the liquid level L in the tank I. This branch [5 likewise is provided with a pressure valve I8 which is normally closed.

A lever I9 is fulcrumed on a suitably located standard 20 and one arm of the lever is connected to the valve [8 while the other arm is connected to the valve 16. By means of a weight W the lever can be maintained normally in the position shown in Figure 2. Thisweight can be mounted in any suitable manner at one end of the lever. The other end of the lever has a threaded stem 2| pivotally connected thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. This stem is slidable within a foot 22 projecting from the lower end of a tripping stem 23 which is screwthreaded and in turn slidably mounted in a bracket 24 carried by the container 6. Adjustable stop nuts 25 and 26 are mounted on the stem 23 above and below bracket 24 and adjustable stop nuts 21 and 28 are mounted on the stem 2| above and below the foot 22. A coiled spring 29 is mounted on this stem 2! between nut 21 and foot 22 and constitutes a means for yieldingly supporting stem 2| from the foot 22.

Oppositely extending wings 30 are carried by stem '23 adjacent to the foot 22 and to these wings are pivotally connected diverging rods 3| which are slidable in guide sleeves 32. These guide sleeves are pivotally supported by a bracket 33 and, when lever I9 is in its normal position as shown in Figure 2, the rods converge upwardly. Springs 34 are mounted on the rods 3! and thrust against sleeves 32 and against the wings 30 so as thus to exert an upward pressure against stem 23 whereby its foot 22 is held in an elevated position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A by-pass is connected to the pipe 3 and is so I located as to bridge the valve l8. This by-pass,

which is shown at 35, is provided with anormally closed valve 36 adapted to open in the v.direction of the outlet end H of the pipe [5. The valve has an operating arm 31 whichextendsover that arm of lever I9 to which stem 21 is connected so that when lever I9 is in its normal position,

arm 31 :is heldraised .and ivalve 3611s closed.

'Wh'en the valve H is .open,.ras :in Figure 2, liquid is Ifree to :flow from the .=storage. tank S through pipe 1:! to .pipe :4 iandithence'into .the intermediate tank 6. fAs :the :liquid isigradually stored in this intermediate :tank, :the increasing weight will cause the pipes 3 and 4 tosa'g :under the load, this *saggin'gaction being resisted by ment-of the parts will carry the rods 3! past their-deadcenter with the result that the energy stored in-the'* springs-3dwill cause the foot 22 to abruptly move downwardly against nut 28 with "the result that lever l9 will be abruptly shifted from the position shown in Figure 2 to th'e position shown in Figure -5. This results 'in prompt closingof valve lfi'so that the steam and/or air exhausting from tank '6 to'tank S by way of pipes 3-andtW-is cut on. At the same time the valve 48 is abruptly opened 'against'the action of the weight Thus communicationiis -'established between the upper portion of the *tank or boiler l by way of "pipe '3 with outlet "pipe Fl but as long-as the-lower end 'of 'said pipe -l1lis submerged in the liquid'content'of the tank or boiler "and there'is a pressure of'air, gas or steam -within the tank or boiler, there will be no release of =liquid from intermediate tank 6.

As scenes the liquid level L :drops below'the end of pipe 1*! the air, 'gas or steamheld'un'der pressure a'bovethe liquid level is released so I'thalt it can escape into pipe 3 and thence *intojthe upper portion of "the intermediate tank .6. As

thepressure 'in the tanks 1 and 6 is thus equal- I When'the liquid level rises so as to submerge "the routlet-en'd -of pipe 11, further flow of liquid "to; the tank or boiler l isstopped. Furthermore ;as the liquid "is-delivered from the tank 6, the weight is slowly reduced so that this "tank is gradually moved upwardly by spring "9 and 'the :resiliency of l pipes '3' and 4 until itis restored to its normal K orelevated position. --During this Top- -eration the lever P9 i is abruptly snapped hack-"to amass its initial position by the spring-controlled rods 3| after they move upwardly past their dead center and such action of course results in opening the valve 16 and closing the valve l8, Thus liquid is again free to flow into the tank 6 so as to prepare it for the next cycle of operations. When the valve I6 is open and valve I8 is closed as stated, and water begins to flow into the tank 5, any steam left in the said tank 6 will escape by way of pipe 3., valve 16 and pipe 14 into the storage tank where it may be utilized for preheating the water.

The steam by-pass has been provided as a supplemental feature for the purpose of increas- *ing'the efiiciency of the apparatus but it is not essential. When pressure in boiler i is greater than that in tank 6, the check valve 36 is held closed by the boiler pressure even after lever [B shifts to close valve l6 and open valve I8. Vfhen the pressures in the boiler l and tank 6 have almost :equalizedarm 331 will .actas .a weight to open valve '36 ;and steam can'then-rbe by-passed quicklyiremlpipe1,5.to pipe 3 without fiIfStffiOW- ing through valve l8. When lever J9 .isishifted to close valve it it picks uparm .31 and closes valve 1 6. The utilization of .thewby-zpass results in prompt delivery of liquid from tank 6 when the pressures are equalized "from any cause.

It will "be obvious that a structure :such as herein describedpermitssthe locationof .a storage tank and the intermediate container at any desired point above and away from the 'boileror tank i I-he spring-tripped :meohan'ism f or controlling the valve operation is very important because it insures quick action of the valve so that the supply-of liquid-will take place only at -the-instant desired and at full flow. The cut-oil will also operate'instantaneously by using this 'trip-pingaetion.

' Gbvieuisly-ma-ny modifications of thestructure 'canbe made within thescope of the claims. For example any desired "number of intermediate tanks can be used; theapp'aratus can be caused to operate with or without pressure Trom within the-tank L-andthe connections can be --modified without changing the operation as "explained.

It will be apparent that the rods 3| and the parts-associated therewith form an efiicient toggle-and- -that, asa result of the lost'motion connection 'between'it and the lever [9, the toggle can be moved in either direction toward its dead center, without operating the lever. Tihism'ovement will store'energyin thesprings 34 of the toggle so that, when the toggle passes its dead center, the springs will actuate it abruptly to cause-the quick shift ofthe lever.

'The term "boiler "and/ortank herein used fis'to be understood vasapplying to any'kind ofa containen'towhich liquid of any kind supplied automatically as needed,

"What'is claimed is:

-1; The combination with a boiler, a storage is to be tankand"aiyieldingly"supported container, of a .s'team=pipe extending'from the storage tank and "downwardly'intothe boiler, separate exhaust and pressure valves insaid pipe, a pipe connecting-the, upperportion of the container to the steam pipe "between the valves, the exhaust valve "being positioned between said connecting pipe and the tank, a liquid-conducting .pipe connecting the bottornpf the 'c'ontaine'r'to the'top of the boiler, '21; check valve"th'erein"for preventing returngfiow from th boiler, ,a supply 3 pipe connecting the storage tank'to the 'liquidponducting pipe between said check valve "and'the container. a

check valve therein for preventing return flow to the storage tank, and means operated by the movement of the container in one direction for closing the exhaust valve and opening the pressure valve and by movement in the opposite direction to open the exhaust Valve and close the pressure valve, said means including a springrestrained toggle, a lost motion connection between the toggle and the valves, and means 6perated by the upward or downward movement of the container relative to the boiler for shifting the toggle against the action of its spring toward and past a dead center, said toggle and the stored energy of its spring after passing a dead center constituting means for abruptly actuating the lost motion connection to open one of the valves and close the other valve.

2. The combination with a boiler, a storage tank and a yieldingly supported container, of a steam pipe extending from the storage tank and downwardly into the boiler, separate exhaust and pressure valves in said pipe, a pipe connecting the upper portion of the container to the steam pipe between the valves, the exhaust valve being positioned between said connecting pipe and the tank, a liquid conducting pipe connecting the bottom of the container to the top of the boiler, a check valve therein for preventing return flow from the boiler, a supply pipe connecting the storage tank to the liquid conducting pipe between said check valve and the container, a check valve therein for preventing return flow to the storage tank, and means operated by the movement of the container in one direction for closing the exhaust valve and opening the pressure valve and by movement in the opposite direction to open the exhaust valve and close the pressure valve, said means including a lever fulcrumed between and connected to the exhaust and pressure valves, means connected to the lever for holding said valves normally in one position, a toggle structure including a spring, a lost motion connection between the toggle structure and the lever, and means operated by movement of the container for shifting the toggle toward and past a dead center to store energy in the spring, said toggle being operated by the spring when past a dead center to abruptly actuate the lever.

3. The combination with a boiler and a storage tank, of a container, a steam pipe extending from the storage tank and downwardly into the boiler, separate exhaust and pressure valves in said pipe, a connecting pipe leading from the upper portion of the container to the steam pipe between the valves, the exhaust valve being positioned between said connecting pipe and the tank, a liquid-conducting pipe connecting the bottom of the container to the top of the boiler, said connecting pipe and liquid conducting pipe constituting resilient supports for the container, a supplemental resilient support for the container, a check valve in the liquid-conducting pipe positioned to prevent return flow from the boiler, a supply pipe connecting the storage tank to the liquid conducting pipe between said check valve and the container, a check valve in the supply pipe for preventing return flow to the storage tank, and means operated by the movement of the container in one direction for closing the exhaust valve and opening the pressure valve and, by movement in the opposite direction, to open the exhaust valve and close the pressure valve.

4. The combination with a boiler, a storage tank and a yieldingly supported container, of a steam pipe extending from the storage tank and downwardly into the boiler, separate exhaust and pressure valves in said pipe, a pipe connecting the upper portion of thecontainer to the steam pipe between the valves, the exhaust valve being positioned between said connecting pipe and the tank, a liquid conducting pipe connecting the bottom of the container to the top of the boiler, a check valve therein for preventing return flow from the boiler, a supply pipe connecting the storage tank to the liquid conducting pipe between said check valve and the container, a check'valve therein for preventing return flow to the storage tank, and means operated by the movement of the container in one direction for closing the exhaust valve and opening the pressure valve and by movement in the opposite direction to open the exhaust valve and close the pressure valve, said means including a lever fulcrumed between and connected to the exhaust and pressure valves, means connected to the lever for holding said valves normally in one position, a toggle structure including a spring, a lost motion connection between the toggle structure and the lever, and means operated by movement of the container for shifting the toggle toward and past a dead center to store energy in the spring, said toggle being operated by the spring when past a dead center to abruptly actuate the lever, a by-pass bridging the pressure valve, a valve in the by-pass positioned to be treated by pressure from the boiler, and means released by the lever when moved in one direction, for opening said by-pass valve when pressure is equalized at both ends of the by-pass.

LEWIS CLIFTON ROOF. 

